Sullivan had never planned to add a marriage deal into the paper that was going to be signed with the healer, however, he learnt that the people of Beddington took marriage seriously and so, he decided to cage her with that so that she would not escape.
She wasn't the only healer who had tried to escape from his grip. Most of them, men flee with his money when they discover that they could not treat him.
He didn't want such a thing to happen and this young woman was quite unlucky to be the next he had planned to be strict on. He was going to tread her path like he was her shadow until those six months ended.
"A husband in the paper?" He questioned, feeling distraught at how she classified their contract. He never knew she didn't take it seriously at first. To have thought it was best to use her little brother to force her to sign, now, he had to use something more restraining to make her not opt out of the contract.
Solidly, he felt belittled. Belittled that even after offering to give his Dukedom to her, there was not even a sign of hard work from her.
She was different and he found it quite challenging and disturbing.
Maxine gasped as she felt him lean even further into her. She pushed her back to the wall in an attempt to maintain even the slightest distance from him, however, she blamed herself for doing so because he leaned even further as if wanting to suffocate her.
She felt her chest restricting him and then with a shaky voice she said, "You...you better not do anything funny." She attempted to drop her hands on his chest to push him away from her but then, instead, he held her both wrists in one hand as if she was as tiny as a broomstick.
He then drew her hands up, nailing them above her. Exasperated and weak, she warned him, "You know so well you are trespassing, I am the crown prince's bride. He will have you dead before you know it."
Her threat was as stupid as ever. Perhaps, she was a god of threats in her past life, however, her ability vanished which made her even weak at the slight attempt of a threat.
Maxine's hands were already feeling sore from being raised. And as if he read her mind, he released her wrists and she found herself glancing at her wrist but him standing in front of her reminded her of what she was into.
Finally, after an eternity, she heard him reiterate, "A husband in the paper?" He paused and then bent his head beside hers. His breath was warm on her neck and for a reason she could never understand, she felt some crazy feeling in her midriff.
Maxine felt the tip of his nose touch her neck as he whispered, "How about we hold a marriage ceremony?" He added, his voice filled with annoyance, "Since you claim our binding to be only in papers."
He…
Maxine wanted to swear at him but she knew better, he would be angered by it. He had a very small temper. Her mind could only rummage about ideas to make him leave her. For once, she prayed that someone would knock on the door of her chamber, however, she didn't think it would solve her problem. It would rather worsen it and paint her as a harlot.
"You...what are you trying to do? I gave out a condition. No two… you... you would let me have my space but you are here trailing me around." Maxine wanted to say that if she found out that he would be this way, she would have not signed it, however, she retracted her words knowing the reason she had urged herself to sign it in the first place.
"As expected, you didn't read the words written in italics at the tip of the scroll."
"Words? There...There are more?"
"No. There aren't more conditions," he uttered, giving her a sense of calmness but it only lasted for a second. "It says, 'The proposing party holds the right for final interpretation.'" Watching her dazed stance, he added, "Meaning I will only decide to agree with your condition or not."
Maxine felt his breath linger on her neck before she finally said, "I will not agree to your manner of teasing, My Lord." She was back to the actual title of a nobleman. She was fed up with pretending to agree with him that he was a Duke and a Duke of Ashbourne. "You lie if you think you will tease me so that I can give in to any demand of yours. I can see that clearly in your eyes, My Lord. You are hungry. Hungry for something I do not clearly understand why but please, would you stop all these?"
However, he replied, "Of course I am. I have been abstaining for so long. Now that I have a wife, I do not think I should. Don't you think, My Lady?"
She swallowed before she uttered, "You...I am not in the mood for games, My Lord. I have only a few hours before my wedding to my groom."
"What game, Maxine?" He said, pressing his lips against hers. Maxine's eyes widened as she felt his body press her down, his hips pressing against her, however, her eyes if possible widened further when she felt his arousal.